Infection Control and Prevention Essay

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Infection Prevention and Control

Proposal for Clinical Experience and Project

For this project, I elected to experience the leadership role in a clinical practice with a family nurse practitioner (FNP). Towards this end, my area of specialty will be infection prevention and control in a short-term and long-term rehabilitation facility.

The relevance of this clinical experience cannot be overstated when it comes to the further enhancement of my professional capabilities. As a matter of fact, I regard it a rite of passage as I seek to gather additional insight in my field of specialization for enhanced patient care in a clinical setting. Being fully aware of the diversity of the patient-care environment, I would want to be prepared to address various healthcare-related issues and concerns in an able and professional manner. This is more so the case given that the nursing field is very broad – effectively meaning that those in this noble profession ought to be prepared to function in a wide range of care settings and specialties. In general terms, therefore, my selected clinical experience would come in handy in this endeavor.

I selected my area of specialty, i.e. infection prevention and control, for a number of reasons. It is important to note that infection control and prevention is key to the further enhancement of patient outcomes. According to Gould and Drey (2013), the relevance of infection control in “protecting patients and reducing the risks of occupational exposure” cannot be overstated” (760). Towards this end, I would want to be well versed in the prevention of hospital-acquired infections by ensuring a safe working environment that does not pose the risk of infection. The role of nurses in this endeavor is largely front-line given their close interactions and proximity to patients. It is with this in mind that I would desire to be well-versed in the various infection control and management approaches so as to ensure protection for both myself and my patients. This is of great relevance given that “professional practice requires direct contact with the sick, handling material and implementation of invasive procedures” (Gomes, Mascarenhas, Mendonca, and Rebelo, 2016, p. 87). Below are my self-defined learning objectives for the clinical experience:

1. To have a practical feel of the various approaches and measures undertaken in seeking to ensure that pathogens borne by various body fluids are not transmitted in the course of healthcare provision or conduction of first aid. The said body fluids include, but they are not limited to blood, vaginal secretions, amniotic fluids, cerebrospinal fluids, etc.

2. To have better grasp of not only how infections occur, but also the manner in which various microorganisms behave and proliferate. In so doing, I would be seeking to have better comprehension of prevention approaches across all settings.

3. To familiarize myself with the various organizational procedures put in place in a clinical setting to not only prevent, but also minimize opportunities for infections. Towards this end, I would be interested in finding out the various strategies healthcare institutions adopt or embrace in an attempt to ensure that patient outcomes are not hampered by poor infection control and prevention by members of staff. In essence, infections such as influenza pose a significant risk of spreading amongst patients in a healthcare setting. This could have significant and far-reaching implications for healthcare facilities.

The fact that I will be in a supervised learning environment means that I will be sharpening my skills and abilities in my selected area of specialty under the watchful as well as keen eye of an experienced professional, i.e. a family nurse practitioner (FNP).

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In that regard, therefore, I will be developing the necessary capabilities at a more enhanced rate than I would on my own, without necessarily compromising the safety as well as outcomes of patients.

Regulatory Standards in Beverley Rehabilitation and Health Care Center

The role of regulation in nursing practice cannot be overstated. Towards this end, there are various regulatory agencies that provide guidelines as well as standards for various practice settings. For my practice setting, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) remains a key regulatory agency. HHS concerns itself with not only the protection of the health of the American public, but also the provision of services deemed essential. More specifically, HHS highlights its mission as “to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans” (HHS, 2018). According to HHS, under Congress’ authority, agencies create laws from time to time with an aim of assisting the government to execute its public policy. In essence, my area of focus is infection control and prevention.

It is important to note that as various studies have indicated in the past, one of the most significant threats to the safety as well as wellbeing of patients are healthcare-associated infections (HAI). As per the recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee, which advises the HHS secretary on the most viable strategies to implement in an attempt to control and prevent HAIs, “adherence to infection prevention and control practices is essential to providing safe and high quality patient care across all settings where healthcare is delivered” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC, 2017). Towards this end, various infection control as well as prevention guidelines have been put in place for all healthcare facilities to adhere to – “regardless of the type of healthcare provided” (CDC, 2017).

In various core practice categories, the guidelines highlight not only the relevance of support from the leadership of facilities, but also the need to adequately train staff on the various aspects of infection prevention. Education and training on infection control, as per the guidelines, should be extended to both patients and family members, as well visitors. Training in this case could include basic information on the spread of infections and the various measures which could be adopted in an attempt to prevent the said spread. The relevance of implementing appropriate performance and feedback mechanisms is also highlighted. Towards this end, adherence to infection prevention strategies should be closely monitored and if need be, corrective measures undertaken. A variety of standard precautions have been highlighted. These include, but they are not limited to, proper cleaning and disinfection of the environment, medication as well as injection safety, and hand hygiene.

My project involves educating nurses working in a short-term long- term rehabilitation center/nursing home on how to insert indwelling Foley catheter and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). This would be more of a ‘refresher course’ for the more experienced nurses and a valuable knowledge acquisition opportunity for those with less experience. The relevance of this exercise cannot be overstated especially given that as Nicolle (2014) points out, “urinary tract infection attributed to the use of an indwelling urinary catheter is one of the most common infections acquired by patients in health care facilities” (23). Under the ‘temporary invasive medical devices for clinical management’ guideline, the need for the healthcare provider to see to it that all insertion and maintenance directions are adhered to is restated. Towards this end, reference could be made to ‘Guideline for….....

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